Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His old friends and associates did not realize it at first, thought he was gone on one of his short trips, or had taken on a new operation of some sort.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He was one who kept his mouth shut about his own affairs, and much as his friends would have liked to ask him questions, they seldom did.
affairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was one who kept his mouth shut about his own affairs, and much as his friends would have liked to ask him questions, they seldom did.
althoughnounUS /ˈalthough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading If they did they were surprised to find that, although he answered them pleasantly, they had gained very little real knowledge of what they had started out to investigate.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His old friends and associates did not realize it at first, thought he was gone on one of his short trips, or had taken on a new operation of some sort.
answerednounUS /ˈanswered/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading If they did they were surprised to find that, although he answered them pleasantly, they had gained very little real knowledge of what they had started out to investigate.
apparently
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From this reading Darcy Sherwood had dropped out of Meadow Brook life as completely, apparently, as if he had died.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Darcy Sherwood had dropped out of Meadow Brook life as completely, apparently, as if he had died.
ask
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From this reading He was one who kept his mouth shut about his own affairs, and much as his friends would have liked to ask him questions, they seldom did.
associates
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From this reading His old friends and associates did not realize it at first, thought he was gone on one of his short trips, or had taken on a new operation of some sort.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading His old friends and associates did not realize it at first, thought he was gone on one of his short trips, or had taken on a new operation of some sort.
Brook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Darcy Sherwood had dropped out of Meadow Brook life as completely, apparently, as if he had died.
business
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From this reading Nobody ever seemed to know just what Darcy’s business was, only that nobody ever spoke of him as one who had no business.
completely
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From this reading Darcy Sherwood had dropped out of Meadow Brook life as completely, apparently, as if he had died.
Darcy
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From this reading Darcy Sherwood had dropped out of Meadow Brook life as completely, apparently, as if he had died.
Darcy's
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From this reading Nobody ever seemed to know just what Darcy’s business was, only that nobody ever spoke of him as one who had no business.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading His old friends and associates did not realize it at first, thought he was gone on one of his short trips, or had taken on a new operation of some sort.
died
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Darcy Sherwood had dropped out of Meadow Brook life as completely, apparently, as if he had died.
dropped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Darcy Sherwood had dropped out of Meadow Brook life as completely, apparently, as if he had died.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Nobody ever seemed to know just what Darcy’s business was, only that nobody ever spoke of him as one who had no business.
find
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If they did they were surprised to find that, although he answered them pleasantly, they had gained very little real knowledge of what they had started out to investigate.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His old friends and associates did not realize it at first, thought he was gone on one of his short trips, or had taken on a new operation of some sort.
friends
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His old friends and associates did not realize it at first, thought he was gone on one of his short trips, or had taken on a new operation of some sort.
gained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If they did they were surprised to find that, although he answered them pleasantly, they had gained very little real knowledge of what they had started out to investigate.
gone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His old friends and associates did not realize it at first, thought he was gone on one of his short trips, or had taken on a new operation of some sort.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Darcy Sherwood had dropped out of Meadow Brook life as completely, apparently, as if he had died.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He was one who kept his mouth shut about his own affairs, and much as his friends would have liked to ask him questions, they seldom did.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Darcy Sherwood had dropped out of Meadow Brook life as completely, apparently, as if he had died.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Nobody ever seemed to know just what Darcy’s business was, only that nobody ever spoke of him as one who had no business.
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His old friends and associates did not realize it at first, thought he was gone on one of his short trips, or had taken on a new operation of some sort.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Darcy Sherwood had dropped out of Meadow Brook life as completely, apparently, as if he had died.
investigate
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From this reading If they did they were surprised to find that, although he answered them pleasantly, they had gained very little real knowledge of what they had started out to investigate.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading His old friends and associates did not realize it at first, thought he was gone on one of his short trips, or had taken on a new operation of some sort.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody ever seemed to know just what Darcy’s business was, only that nobody ever spoke of him as one who had no business.
kept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was one who kept his mouth shut about his own affairs, and much as his friends would have liked to ask him questions, they seldom did.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Nobody ever seemed to know just what Darcy’s business was, only that nobody ever spoke of him as one who had no business.
knowledge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If they did they were surprised to find that, although he answered them pleasantly, they had gained very little real knowledge of what they had started out to investigate.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Darcy Sherwood had dropped out of Meadow Brook life as completely, apparently, as if he had died.
liked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was one who kept his mouth shut about his own affairs, and much as his friends would have liked to ask him questions, they seldom did.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If they did they were surprised to find that, although he answered them pleasantly, they had gained very little real knowledge of what they had started out to investigate.
Meadow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Darcy Sherwood had dropped out of Meadow Brook life as completely, apparently, as if he had died.
mouth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was one who kept his mouth shut about his own affairs, and much as his friends would have liked to ask him questions, they seldom did.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was one who kept his mouth shut about his own affairs, and much as his friends would have liked to ask him questions, they seldom did.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His old friends and associates did not realize it at first, thought he was gone on one of his short trips, or had taken on a new operation of some sort.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Nobody ever seemed to know just what Darcy’s business was, only that nobody ever spoke of him as one who had no business.
NobodypronounUS /ˈnoʊbɑːdiː/
no person; not anyone
From this reading Nobody ever seemed to know just what Darcy’s business was, only that nobody ever spoke of him as one who had no business.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading His old friends and associates did not realize it at first, thought he was gone on one of his short trips, or had taken on a new operation of some sort.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Darcy Sherwood had dropped out of Meadow Brook life as completely, apparently, as if he had died.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His old friends and associates did not realize it at first, thought he was gone on one of his short trips, or had taken on a new operation of some sort.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading His old friends and associates did not realize it at first, thought he was gone on one of his short trips, or had taken on a new operation of some sort.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading His old friends and associates did not realize it at first, thought he was gone on one of his short trips, or had taken on a new operation of some sort.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody ever seemed to know just what Darcy’s business was, only that nobody ever spoke of him as one who had no business.
operation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His old friends and associates did not realize it at first, thought he was gone on one of his short trips, or had taken on a new operation of some sort.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading His old friends and associates did not realize it at first, thought he was gone on one of his short trips, or had taken on a new operation of some sort.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Darcy Sherwood had dropped out of Meadow Brook life as completely, apparently, as if he had died.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was one who kept his mouth shut about his own affairs, and much as his friends would have liked to ask him questions, they seldom did.
pleasantly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If they did they were surprised to find that, although he answered them pleasantly, they had gained very little real knowledge of what they had started out to investigate.
questions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was one who kept his mouth shut about his own affairs, and much as his friends would have liked to ask him questions, they seldom did.
real
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If they did they were surprised to find that, although he answered them pleasantly, they had gained very little real knowledge of what they had started out to investigate.
realize
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His old friends and associates did not realize it at first, thought he was gone on one of his short trips, or had taken on a new operation of some sort.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Nobody ever seemed to know just what Darcy’s business was, only that nobody ever spoke of him as one who had no business.
seldom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was one who kept his mouth shut about his own affairs, and much as his friends would have liked to ask him questions, they seldom did.
Sherwood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Darcy Sherwood had dropped out of Meadow Brook life as completely, apparently, as if he had died.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading His old friends and associates did not realize it at first, thought he was gone on one of his short trips, or had taken on a new operation of some sort.
shut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was one who kept his mouth shut about his own affairs, and much as his friends would have liked to ask him questions, they seldom did.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His old friends and associates did not realize it at first, thought he was gone on one of his short trips, or had taken on a new operation of some sort.
sort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His old friends and associates did not realize it at first, thought he was gone on one of his short trips, or had taken on a new operation of some sort.
spoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody ever seemed to know just what Darcy’s business was, only that nobody ever spoke of him as one who had no business.
started
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If they did they were surprised to find that, although he answered them pleasantly, they had gained very little real knowledge of what they had started out to investigate.
surprisednounUS /surprised/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If they did they were surprised to find that, although he answered them pleasantly, they had gained very little real knowledge of what they had started out to investigate.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His old friends and associates did not realize it at first, thought he was gone on one of his short trips, or had taken on a new operation of some sort.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Nobody ever seemed to know just what Darcy’s business was, only that nobody ever spoke of him as one who had no business.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading If they did they were surprised to find that, although he answered them pleasantly, they had gained very little real knowledge of what they had started out to investigate.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was one who kept his mouth shut about his own affairs, and much as his friends would have liked to ask him questions, they seldom did.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His old friends and associates did not realize it at first, thought he was gone on one of his short trips, or had taken on a new operation of some sort.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Nobody ever seemed to know just what Darcy’s business was, only that nobody ever spoke of him as one who had no business.
trips
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His old friends and associates did not realize it at first, thought he was gone on one of his short trips, or had taken on a new operation of some sort.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If they did they were surprised to find that, although he answered them pleasantly, they had gained very little real knowledge of what they had started out to investigate.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His old friends and associates did not realize it at first, thought he was gone on one of his short trips, or had taken on a new operation of some sort.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading If they did they were surprised to find that, although he answered them pleasantly, they had gained very little real knowledge of what they had started out to investigate.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Nobody ever seemed to know just what Darcy’s business was, only that nobody ever spoke of him as one who had no business.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Nobody ever seemed to know just what Darcy’s business was, only that nobody ever spoke of him as one who had no business.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He was one who kept his mouth shut about his own affairs, and much as his friends would have liked to ask him questions, they seldom did.
